Empty properties

A property is said to be uninhabitable if it is not safe or not fit to live in.

We consider a property to be uninhabitable if either:

• it is currently undergoing major repair work to make it suitable to live in
• work is underway to make structural alterations and the majority of this work has not been completed

The following types of repairs can make a property uninhabitable:

• roofs
• major repairs to roof structures
• rebuilding defective chimney stack(s)
• external walls
• rebuilding external walls – for example, to extend the property
• foundations
• repair or renewal of foundations
• underpinning substandard foundations
• floors
• replacing defective solid floors
• replacing defective solid floor joists
• internal
• property totally gutted including removing most internal walls – not stud or partition walls
• replacing defective ceiling joists
• rebuilding defective walls – not stud or partition walls

The following are repairs and alterations that do not make a property uninhabitable:

• plumbing or heating
• replacement or repair of bathroom and kitchen or any other fitting or fixture
• rewiring
• timber or damp proof treatments
• re-plastering
• drainage
• repairs or renewals of services
• maintenance – for example, re-pointing, window replacement, door replacement
• redecoration

Empty Property scheme

Owners of empty properties can apply for financial help of up to £6,000 towards major repair works that would make a property fit to live in. Find out more about our Empty Property scheme.